Danger Signs for Crosswalks in Bangkok

If you’ve been to Thailand on holiday and have tried to cross the road at a pedestrian crossing, you will probably be happy to see this warning. In Thailand, it is rare to see cars stop for pedestrians, even when they have started walking on the crosswalk. Accidents are frequent. This bilingual sign goes a step towards making it safer for foreign tourists who might not understand that they are gambling with their life when crossing the road at these places. Cars just won’t stop for you. Another important thing to remember is to look both ways.  We do get motorcycles going the wrong way on roads. It says this in Thai on the above sign, but they forgot to translate that important part.

Of course, they should be educating the drivers to always stop to let pedestrians cross the road. Actually, in Pattaya they have already gone ahead with a program to force drivers to stop at pedestrian crossings. A few years back, they put up pedestrian crossings with lights. Sounds like a good idea but it didn’t work. Even though the red light was showing and people had started to cross, some cars still continued to drive. Sometimes hitting pedestrians. So, what they now have to do is have people with flags at each crossing. Once the red light shows, these people come and stand in the middle of the road with their flags making sure the drivers stop. I’m not sure how many years they have to keep doing this. Maybe for ever.

One thought on “Danger Signs for Crosswalks in Bangkok

  • June 3, 2012 at 4:51 pm
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    If I am reading this story, I think: That is Asia. But the same can happen in the Orient.

    Reply

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